Big 12 gradebook: Many gold stars for Saturday's efforts

Big 12 Blog

September, 29, 2009

Sep 29

7:12

PM ET

By Tim Griffin

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

I feel like one of those teachers who sees his students ace an easy test. Every team in the conference looked outstanding with the exception of Texas Tech. Here's a look at my gradebook for this week.

Baylor: A-plus. Huge statement triumph, but I'm wondering if it wasn't a Pyrrhic victory after Robert Griffin's injury.
Texas: A-plus. It says something when a team tops 300 yards rushing and passing in the same game. Texas accomplished that feat for only the second time in school history.
Nebraska: A-plus. What could be better than toasting the Cornhuskers' sellout streak as they played beatdown with an overmatched foe?
Texas A&M: A-plus. The Aggies' offense is better than anybody would have thought. The defense played well against UAB, but will be stepping up in class as it meets Arkansas.
Iowa State: A. Paul Rhoads has quietly got the Cyclones in position for a bowl game if they can beat Kansas State. Alexander Robinson is emerging as the conference's most underrated player.
Kansas State: A. Brandon Banks is back, which has huge ramifications for the Wildcats' offense and special teams. But take the margin of victory against Tennessee Tech with a grain of salt -- please.
Oklahoma State: A. Nice victory over Grambling State considering Perrish Cox, Kendall Hunter and Dez Bryant didn't play. Mike Gundy has his work cut out for him before the A&M game next week.
Kansas: A-minus. The defense came up big in the fourth quarter to salt away the victory over Southern Mississippi. But something is looking off-kilter for Todd Reesing. The Jayhawks must protect him better in the future.
Missouri: A-minus. I liked Blaine Gabbert's performance, but the Tigers must run the ball better if they have any hopes of beating Nebraska and other North powers. And the defense still is allowing too many easy yards.
Texas Tech: C. I still can't get over how quickly the Red Raiders abandoned their running game after all of their early success against Houston. The defense played well at times but eventually was blistered by too much Case Keenum.

Off: Colorado, Oklahoma.

Sort comments by: Most Recent | First Posted

Comments that include profanity, or personal attacks, or antisocial behavior such as "spamming" or "trolling," or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our terms of use. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.